Convertible chair



(Mode L) v B. 0. WILSON.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

Patented 1m. 27,1881.

WITNESSES.-

N. PETERS. Photo-Lithographer Washington. 04 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Y

BENNET 0. WILSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,396, dated December 27, 1881.

Application filed September 25, 1880. (Modem To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENNET 0. WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Convertible Chairs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a chair embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the chair converted into a bed or lounge, and Fig. 4 is detail modification in elevation. I

My invention has for its object to provide a chair adapted for use as an oscillating chair,

and capable of being converted into a bed, lounge, or sofa.

My invention accordingly consists, first, of

' a chair frame or platform and of a separatelyformed seat and back, pivoted to each other and to said frame or platform, said seat and back being further connected by a spring-catch or bolt, which passes through a slot in the side of the chair-frame or in a bracket depending therefrom, whereby said seat and back may be simultaneously oscillated on their pivotal connections to form an oscillating chair, the extent of said movement being limited by the said slot in the chair-frame or in the depending bracket; second, in a chair-back made of two or more sections, pivoted to each other so as to fold together, and in providing said sections with leg frames or supports, one of which is loosely hung upon the pivotal connections of said sections and the other securely or rigidly fastened to the lower or outer end of one of said sections, whereby, when the latter are folded together to form the back of the chair, one of said leg frames or supports will fold or come between the sections and the other will pass beneath the seat or frame of the chair, and thereby be concealed from view; third, in constructing the sides of cne of the back-sections with curved arms or extensions, whereby, when said sections are unfolded to form a bed, 860., said arms will come in contact with the chair-seat and raise or tilt it on its pivotal connections to form a head-rest, said arms remaining in contact therewith as long as the sections are so unfolded, to form a support for said seat in its inclined position and for any weight or pressure that may be applied thereon or thereto; and, fourth, in the general combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

' Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a frame or platform of a chair; B, the seat thereof, pivoted at b to said frame.

0 is the back, formed of sections D D, pivoted together at d. The section D is also pivoted to the frame A and to the seat B by the said pivot-bolts I). Said sections, when folded together, are so held by a hook or catch, d.

E E are leg frames or supports, the former beingloosely hung upon the pivots orjournals d and the latter rigidly secured to the lower or outer end of section D. The sides d of section D are provided with or extended to form curved arms d d', as shown, the arm d having apertures or recesses (1*.

F is a bracket fastened to and depending from the frame A, and is formed with a curved slot,f.

G is a spring-catch secured to the seat A, the finger or catch g of which passes through said slotfin bracket F and enters one of the openings or recesses d in the arm d of section D, so as to secure said section and seat firmly together to form a chair, which may be oscillated on the pivotal pointsb, as shown by dotted lines av, Fig. 2. The extent of motion of said oscillation is limited by the movement of the finger gin the slotf of the bracket F.

When said finger reaches the end f of said slot the backward movement of the chair is stopped.

His a spring secured to the frame A, as shown, or in any other suitable position, so as to rest against the lower surface of the seat B, so that when the latter is oscillating the action and reaction of the spring will impart thereto a soft and easymotion.

To convert the chair into a bed, lounge, 820., the hook (l is unfastened and the spring-catch G released from engagement with the arm 01 of section D. The section D is then taken hold of and drawn downwardly and outwardly, carrying with it the section D, which, turning on the pivots b b, causes its arms (1 d to impinge against the seat B and tilt or elevate the same to form a head-rest, the leg-frame E adjusting itself autom atioally to a perpen dicular position during said unfolding of the sections. When the latter are completely unfolded a bed, lounge, or sofa is formed having legs E E, (the frameA now also forming a legsupport therefor,) and an inclined or raised head-rest, B, as shown in Fig. To restore said parts to form the chair the sections D D are simply raised and folded together, during which movementthe leg-frameE automatically assumes its position between said sections,the leg-irame E passing beneath the frameA and the seat B lowering itselfto its normal position, whereupon the finger g of catch G automatically passes through slot f of bracket F and enters one of the apertures 01 in arm of ofsection 1). The hook d is then fastened, and the chair is then complete' The series of apertures d are provided in order that the inclination of the back 0 to the seat B may be varied.

I have shown the seat and the back sections covered with veneering, in which case, when converted into a bed or lounge, suitable covering will be required to be placed thereon; but, if desired, said parts may be cushioned or upholstered so that when unfolded no additional covering will be necessary. So, too, if desired, the slotted bracket F may be dispensed with, and said slot may be formed directly in the side of the frame or platform A, as shown in Fig. 4.

In the drawings Ihax e shown my invention as applied to an ordinary chair; but it is evident that a setteo or a lawn-bench may be likewise constructed to form a rocking settee or bench, and when unfolded will be converted into a double bed, lounge, &c.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A chair-frame provided with a seat and back,formed separate from each other and pivoted together and to said frame, and means, substantially as shown, for locking said back and seat together, in combination with a spring or other catch, constructed and arranged substantially as described, for limiting the oscillating movement of said seat and back, substantially as set forth.

2. A chair provided with a pivoted seat and back, the latter being composed of sections, one of which is provided with arms extending beneath the seat-frame, so that when said sections are unfolded to form a bed, 850., said arms will contact with the under side of said seat and tilt or elevate the latter on its pivotal connections to form a head-rest for said bed, 850., substantially as shown and described.

3. A frame or platform provided with a pivoted seat and back, the latter being composed of sections, one of said sections being provided with means, substantially as shown and described, whercby when the back of the frame or platform is moved on its pivot to a horizon tal position said seat is tilted on its pivotal connections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of frame or platform A,

seat B, and hack 0, pivoted to one another at b b, and mechanism for locking said seatand back together, the curved slotted brackets F and spring-catch G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 5. The combination of frame or platform A. the seat B and back 0, pivoted to each other at b b, said back being composed of sections D D, having arms (1 d as and for the purpose set forth. k

6. The combination of frame or platform A, the seat B, the sectional back 0, legs F F, arms d d brackets F, with curved slot fand spring or other catch, G, said parts being combined for operation substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereto set my hand this 17th day of September, 1880- BENNET 0. WILSON. Witnesses:

ISAAC H. OHARRA, I. H. OHARRA, Jr. 

